Electric switch.



A. W. CLAUDER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APrLwATIoN FILED v3.15, 1911.

998,467. Patented July 18,1911

WITN SES: IN VEN TOR 'vez' l A TTOHNEYJ UNITED sTATEs PaiENT oEEioE.

ARTHUR W. CLAUDER, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BBIDGEPORT,

NECTICUT.

CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F CON- `ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1911.

Application led February 15, 1911. Serial No. 608,696.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that l, ARTHUR WV. CLAUDER, a citizen of the United States 4of America, and residing in the city of. Bridgeport, in therounty of Fairfield and State of Con 'necticut, have invented a certain nevvl and, useful Improved Electric Switch, of which line 1 1, Fig. 4; Fig; 2 is a. plan View with the upper insulatin .button removed; Fig. 3 is a perspective o the switch spindle and associated parts, detached; Fig. 4 is a plan of the socket body; and Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views showing the switch mechanism in different positions.

In the accompanying drawings my invention. is shown embodied vin an electric lamp socket comprising insulating buttonsI A. and B between which the switch mechanism is mounted. These huttonsare spaced apart by standards 10 and 1i provided with binding screws l2 and lil for the leading'lin wires. The shell 14. is constantly in circuit through the securing :screw 15 which passes through the base of standard 11. Current is led to the center contact 1G through the mounted upon the sleeve 22.

switch mechanism about to be described.

Two uprights l? and 18 sup port the oppo siteends 19 and 20 of the divided switch spindle, the upright 17 being electrically connectedto and preferably integral with the standard l0, and the upright 18 being electrically' connectedy through the screw 2l with the center contact 1G. The portion '19 of `the spindle is Anon-rotating', 'its squared end being held rigid vin the upright 17. A non-rotating sleeve 22 With squared bore slides .lengthwise of this portion of the spindle and is subjected to the action of the spring 23P interposed between' a collar thereon and the upright 17, 'A pair of vspring Contact lingers 24 with inclined ends is The portion 20 ofthe splndle, .which 4'carried by the usual insulating thumb key C,

is journaled in the .upright 18 although of rectangular cross section through at least a portion of its length. A second pair of contact lingers 25 similar. to' and facing those just described, are un'ited by a web with'rcc'- tangular perforation co1rcs}mnding in shape to the cross section of the portion 20 of thc spindle so that the spring fingers 25 rotate with the latter under the influence of the key C. A Washer 26 may heprovided to support vthe contact fingers 25 on Vthe spindle Q0, and

lock the latterin position.

Interposed. between the two pairs of contact lingers 24 and 25 is arranged the cut-out block. In the form shown this comprises a cylindrical body 27 of insulating materiall with four ratchet teeth on each end. Upon the four peripheral lWedge shaped cams thus formed, separate conducting bands 28 are mounted, the sides of which overlap the sides ofsaid cams and thus form the bearing faces which are engaged by the spring fingers 24y and 25. The adjacent bands are insulated from each other by the depth of the ratchet teeth'on the one hand, and peripherally through the splacing interval formed by the recessing of t e broader end of each band at 29.

Obviously if both pairs of spring pawls are in contact with the samt-.band the cur-- rent is led from the terminal 12 through the upright t7, Vspindle 19, contact fingers 24, opposite bands 28 contact lingers 25, spindle 20, and upright 18 to the center contact 16 and the lamp is in circuit. l0n the other handy if the pairs of spring contacts are in ex agement 'with alternate bands, the circult 1S broken at the cutout block, since the hands areinsulated from each other.

p The operation of the switch is "readily understood. Uponthe turningfof the key C clockwise (Fig. 5), thev spring'ngers 25, rotating with the key spindle 20,"tcnd by their,` frictional' engagement with the ratchet, to rotate the latter. The springngcrs .24 howevenngagingthe ratchet on the oppo-` site .faceof the cut-out block, prevent the rotation of the latterso that the block 2T is merely displaced axially, compressing the spring 23. nasmuch as the spring lingers 24 do not rotate, the circuit is made or broken .as soon as the fingers 25 have passed the 'of the ratchet tooth then engaged and the :block is snapped back lb the ex'- pansion of the s ring 23. If the liandle be turned in the ot er direction tcontraclock- Wise), Fig. 6, the cutout block 1s rotated by l la) broken by their snapping down into the ad-l vjacent recess at the i It is thus seen that while the cut-out blockase of the next tooth.

is free to rotate on the spindles 19 and 20, it is maintained stationary with relation to one pair of said spring contact fingers when the 'actuating key is rotated in one direction, and stationary with relation to the other pair when the key is rotated in the opposite direction, by reason of the oppositely faced ratchet elements on the faces engaged by said contact fingers. The rotation of said keyin either direction thus makes or breaks the circuit.

The construction possesses several advantages. Two breaks are secured by reason ofthe fact that the current is carried by both Contact fingers in each pair Ell-25. The break is sharp, since the spring 23 is under its greatest compression just as th fingers leave the end'of the ratchet teeth. The key C serves as an indicator of the position of the switch since the squared key spindle 20 is held in definite relation to the contact fingers 25. l1 1e switch elements are readily manufactured, dur-able, efficient, eas-A. ily assembled, and once assembled diihcult to put out of order,4 and at the same time atl'ord maximum of etliciency from an elec= tiical standpoint by providing a sharp break,

, well insulated contacts and. a reversible indicating operating key.

Obviously thc switch may be employed in other connections than in a lanip socket as shown, andA I do not limit my invention to its use in the latter, nor to the precise details of construction illustrated which obviously may be varied in many ways Without dcparting om the scope`of my invention. For insta ice the contact fingers of the members 24 and 25 may be rigidfinstead of re`- .silient as shown, since the spring 23 readily permits the axial displacement of the parts.

I claim as my invention:-

1. 4An electric switch comprising a cutout block and a )lurality of contact n'ieinberscooperating therewith, Said parts being all -displaceable with relation to each other, in

combination with reversilile actuating meansl for altering the relation ot one or the other of said contacts to said cutout block depend ing upon thc direction in which said actuating ii'icansis. rotated, to make or break the circuit.

d25h11 an electric switch, a cutout member anda pair ofcoutact members in sliding engagement therewith, in combination with a contact inem reversible actuating member and means for moving with relation to said cutout block, one of said contact, members on the movement o1" said actuating member in one direction, and the other contact member on the movement of said actuatini` member in the opposite direction, to ma e or break the circuit.

3. [n an electric switch, a cutout member and a pair of contact members in sliding engagement therewith, in combination with a reversible actuating member and means for movin said cutout member with relation to one o said contact members on the movement of said actuating member in one direction. and with relation to' the other contact member in the reverse direction, to make or break the circuit. Y

4. In an electric switch, a cutout block rotating' in one direction, two Contact members in sliding engagement therewith, one of said Contact members being free to rotate in either direction and the other contact member being held against rotation, in combination with a reversible actuating member and means for rotating together said cut-- out block und the freely rotating contact member in one direction, and onl f said freely rotating contact. member in t e opposite directionl'to make or break the circuit.

5. An electric switch having a 'rotary cutout member axially displaceable, contact members cooperating therewith, one of said contact mem with said cutout member but held against rotation, and the other contact member being freel rotatable in either direction, in combination with reversible actuating means engaging said freely rotatable contact 'and serving upon the rotation thereof in one direction to axially displace said ,cutout block and cooperating contactmember without rotary displacement thereof, to make 4or break the circuit.

1G. .-\n electric switch having a rotary cutout member axially displaceable, contact members cooperating therewith,`one`of said ers being axially `disftzilaceable with said cutout member butheldagainst rotation, and the other contact member being freely rotatable in either direction, in combination with reversible actuating means engaging said freely rotatable contact and serving upon the rotation thereof inone direction to rotate said cutout block therewith whereby the circuit is made, or broken, substantially as described. i e t 7. ln an electric switch, aicutout member and cooperating independent. contact inembers, all of said parts being-rotatable with relation to each other, a reversible operating s indle for alteringthe'rclation of one or tac other of said contacts to said cutout block dependingr upon the direction inwhich said spindle is rotated, said parts being constructed to assume with exactness certain predetermined relations in the make or break position, and an operating key fixed on said spindle and indicating by its position the make or break condition of the switch.

8. An electric switch comprising a rotary cutout block, independent conducting bands thereon, a pair of contacts lying` one on either side of said cutout block and separately rotatable with relation thereto, each of said contacts comprising a pair of contact fingers lying on opposite sides of the axis ot rotation and sinlultzilneously contacting with the conducting bands on said cutout block. in combination with means for rotating one or the other of said contacts with relation to said cutout block to make or break the circuit, whereby two breaks in the circuit are simultaneously secured on one side of said cutout block, substantially as described.

.9. An electric switch comprising a switch spindle having` its opposite ends insulated trom cach other, a cutout block mounted thereon. and a snap make and break mechanism in connection therewith for making or breaking a circuit through the opposite ends of said spindle.

10. An electric switch comprising a switch spindle havinr its opposite ends insulated from each ot er. a cutout block mounted thereon. contacts cooperating with' said cutout block, and a snap make and break mechanism in connection therewith for making or breaking a circuit through the opposite ends ot said spindle.

ll. ln an electric switch, a switch spindle, a rotary cutout block mounted thereon having ratchets thereon, together with independent Contact members cooperating with said ratchets, said contact members comprising pawls engaging the ratchet teeth of said cutout block. i

l2. ln an electric switch, a switch spindle, a rotary cutout block mounted thereon having opposed ratchet ends and conducting` members extending between and overlying opposite teeth on said ratchet ends, in combination with contact members comprising pawls engaging said conducting members and means for displacing said pawls with relation to said cutout block to make orbreak a circuit through said conducting members.

cio

lf3. In an electric switch, a switch spindle, a rotary cutout block mounted thereon having opposed ratchet ends and' conducting members extending between and overlying opposite teeth on said ratchet ends, in combination with contact members comprising pawls engaging said conducting members and re\i'ersible actuating moans for displacing one or the other of said pawls with relation to said cutout block to make or break a circuit through said conducting members upon the rotation of said actuating means in either direction.

14. In an electric switch, a divided switch spindle, a cutout block mounted upon and bridging the space between the juxtaposed ends of said spindle and insulated therefrom, conductingr members carried by said cutout block, in combination with contacts cooperating with said conducting members and a snap make and break mechanism for displacing said contacts with relation. to said cutout block to make or break a circuit through said conducting members.

l5. In an electric switch, a divided switch spindle, a cutout black mounted `upon and bridgin the space between the juxtaposed ends o :said spindle and insulated therefrom conducting members carried by said cutout block, in combination with contacts cooperating with said conducting members and reversible actuating means for displacing one or the other of said contacts with relation to said cutout` block to make or break a circuit through said conducting members upon the rotation of said actuating means in either direction.

16. In an electric switch, a divided switch spindle, uprights carrying the same, one portion of said spindle being rigidyvith relation to its upright, in combination with a cutout block rotated on said divided spindle and cooperating contacts on opposite sides thereof. reversible operative means in connection with the rotation thereof in either direction to displace said cutout block with i relation to one or the other of said. coperatingr contacts.

17. In an electric switch, a divided spindle, uprights carrying the same, one portion of said spindle being rigid with relation to its u ri ht, and the other portion of the spin e icing freely rotatable in its upright, in combination with a cutout block mounted on said spindle, a cooperating contact meinber on one side thereof mounted on said stationary portion of the spindle and held against rotation, together with a second contact cooperating with said cutout block mounted on the other side thereof and moving with the freely rotating portion of said spindle, and means in connection with thc rotation of `said portion of the spindle for displacing said cutout block with relation to one or the other of said cooperating contacts.

In testimony whereoi` I have signed my name to this specification. in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR WV. @LAUDER Witnesses:

F. E. SEELEY, H. M. Wiommr.

anV 

